TSU to combine commencement ceremonies, hold them at Hale Stadium

Tennessee State University will hold its graduation ceremonies outside at Hale Stadium for the first time in more than 35 years, school officials announced Wednesday.

Hale Stadium underwent a renovation in 2012 and hosted a football game for the first time since 1998 last fall. The move means that TSU will combine two commencement ceremonies into a single event on May 11 at 9 a.m.

“We have been looking for a venue large enough to accommodate a single ceremony for some time, and the upgrades to Hale Stadium over the past year have now provided us with a perfect location,” said Dr. John Cade, associate vice president for Student Affairs.

TSU President Glenda Glover, who graduated TSU in 1974, is excited about the move.

“We are eager to welcome our graduates, their families, and guests to Hale Stadium to experience a tradition that has been missing for nearly 40 years,” Glover said. “I know everyone in attendance will feel a sense of pride as we march into the stadium and bring back one of our more memorable traditions.”

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Gentry Center with overflow seating at Kean Hall.